This is the last part of the fic proper. The epilogue, which is next, is a bit different...
WARNINGS:
This segment contains lots of shounen ai, takes place mostly in the
normal universe, is a combination of fact and Fabrication on many things,
and is basically just like every other part in these respects. ^^
As opposed to those, however, this is relatively short. Don't worry. It'll
be made up for in the epilogue.
SEDIMENTARY PERCUSSION
CHAPTER 3: Counterpoint
by Kay Willow
The ceremony was brief by necessity; while we were in one of the rare lulls of the Victim flow, Gareas had already wasted more than enough time in finding a way to overcome his insomnia, and the administration wasn't about to delay any longer. So it was that the Candidates lined up in formal tunic and slacks, their Repairers opposite them in formal bodysuit and jacket, before lunch that same day, and waited for their former compatriots to appear.
Tune, opposite me, seemed to be torn between pride and worry. The pride was no doubt for Leena, but the worry was because of Garu... because Garu leaving means that I am deprived of my dearest friend. There are days when I am struck by her selflessness, and still more when I wonder if I'm really worthy of such a loyal and admiring Repairer when I spent so much time on my own petty concerns and could not appreciate her anyway. I ignored her more often than not, and she still remained unswervingly devoted.
A crack of heels on the ground as the Senior Candidates saluted in respect, and Garu was there in full regalia, quickly striding down the aisle without hesitation; Leena matched his pace as best she could on his left, nearer to the other Repairers. They stopped short when they reached our place in the line-up, and I dutifully stepped forward when Garu turned to face me, and saluted him properly. With a twisted grin, Garu saluted me back.
There wouldn't be any problems with this separation. Distance generally makes little difference to a telepathist. Even though we will be separated by countless light years once he departs with the GIS, I will still have my empathy, and through my connection to Gareas I will always know if he needs me. Insomnia will never be a problem for him again, not so long as I live.
Garu surprised me then by reaching out and embracing me; he clutched me close to him and just held me there for a long second. I think I may have melted in sheer joy, but eventually I managed to bring my arms up and hug him in return. Across from us, Leena had reigned in Tune for a similar display of affection, only involving a quiet and meaningful discussion instead of the manly I-refuse-to-get-sentimental-and-no-I'm-not-going-to-cry silence that Garu and I attempted. I failed at it miserably, I might note -- there were definite tears in my eyes.
It wasn't farewell, no. But it was certainly a goodbye. It would be a year before I could see him next. He would be a different man, a different person... He would have grown up beyond his years, away from me and the other friends he left behind, because that's the way it always is with the Pilots; they risk their lives every day to protect the human race and the only planet left to us, but they become distanced from those very things because the only ones who can understand the true meaning of this battle is others of their own kind. Soon enough the Pilots and the GIS crew will be Garu's only family, his Ingrid his only love, and remnants like me will be left behind.
That was what I believed. Although even once Gareas was gone -- never a word said to me, for none were needed -- I could do nothing but sit and stare out the windows into the endless ocean of stars and think of him, and I knew somehow that it wasn't true.
Tune stayed with me. She didn't say much, simply lending her presence, and I was grateful to her for that.
When it was time for my training, Tune finally spoke. "I understand that you'll miss him terribly," she said shyly, fussing with her sleeves. She seemed to think they were too tight; I've noticed her fussing with them a lot. "It's horrible, watching your friends go off like that." Her tone was sad; she was going to miss Leena a lot, as well.
I smiled wistfully at the stars. "We'll probably never see them again," I observed. "They'll be here for maybe a week once a year. They'll move on. We'll move on..."
I will never move on.> It was a fact. As a telepathist, I knew my own heart. Sometimes you fell so hard and so fast and so completely that there was no 'moving on'.
"Why should we?" she asked, uncertain whether I wanted to hear her words. I turned and nodded at her encouragingly, and she rushed on. "I mean... I know that it's never been your dream to become a Pilot, that you're doing this more out of a sense of obligation than anything else, but... Just because it's not your lifelong goal doesn't mean you can't work towards it! If nothing else, becoming a Pilot would mean that you could..." Tune faltered, then flushed. "...That you could see Gareas-san and Leena-san again."
I stared at her. Isn't it funny, how sometimes the simplest answers could slip right through your fingers?
The very concept of me making it to Pilot was so bizarre that I couldn't even imagine it -- but it might not be so far off after all. I was an excellent Candidate, having been told several times that application would land me easily within the top ten, but I had never bothered to put an effort into my practices. Why bother? I didn't want to be a Pilot. Let someone with the will and the dream take the place that could be mine...
...but maybe it would be worth it. The only way to be near Garu was to become a Pilot, and being near him was all I'd ever needed to be happy. If that wasn't enough incentive...
"Then let's work at it," I said, getting to my feet, feeling positively cheerful again. "Let's try our best."
Tune tilted her head to smile shyly at me. "You can make it," she whispered. "As long as it's important to you."
It's the only thing important enough.
Does it suck? I bet it sucks. ^^ I don't think I like this part...
The suckiness is all mine, but the characters and the setting belong to Bunny-sensei. ^^ Although maybe killing off Ernest is reason enough to take them away from her...
--Kay Willow, wishing she had a reason to procrastinate on her Psych
final paper, but unable to find one because of her writer's block on the
MK/GW crossover
AIM: Savinsilk
Email: kay_willow@hotmail.com
Quote: can't be bothered~
